Hi, Silvio;
the major difference between both 82240A and B is the available character set. The B version was offered latter, because of the extended character set from the HP48SX, and it contains both ROMAN 8 (the only one available in the A version) and ECMA 96. You can select which of them to use by the escape sequences 27 249 (ECMA96) and 27 248 (ROMAN8). If you want to use the escape sequences, the 82242 Owner's Manual explains how. The HP48SX has the OLDPRT function, that remaps its printing output when you are using the 82240A printer with it. If you are using the 82240A and you want to print with the B version, the best solution is to clear the PRTPAR variable. If I am not wrong, you do not own any HP48 series, at least for now, right? So, do not worry about this.
The other interesting difference you'll see when using each of them for listing programs or printing any bunch of sequenced text lines. The B version allows a better reading, because an extra blank dot-line is added between each printed line (in fact, this blank dot-line is "borrowed" from the upper line characters, that are one dot-line shorter).
The fancy printout you see in the photo is from the sample program that is shown in the HP42S Owner's Manual. This sort of printout can be generated in any of these: HP42S, HP48(any), HP49G, BUT the HP41. What you see is a mix of text and LCD printing. If you use ACCOL, BLDSPEC, ACSPEC, SKPCOL and PRBUFF you'll be able to build and print custom characters with the HP41, but you'll still have the extra blank dot line when printing. Have a look at chapter 5 (Graphics) in the 82242A Owner's Manual and check for the possibilities. In any case, you'll have to create programs for the HP41 in order to use these features for plotting.
The best way to read data from the 82242A is using INPRT for the HP48 (there are different versions of INPRT for the S and G series). This way, the HP48 will "read" the IR input and save the input data as characters. You can collect program listings, trace calculations and program output, i.e., whatever goes out from the 82242A. Then, simply connect the 48 to your PC and transfer the collected data.
Does it help? If you need anything else, e-mail me; if I can help, that will be my pleasure.
Inté. (seeyah)